Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers leader called on the Indian government to avoid crushing Muslims in the disputed Kashmir region after New Delhi stripped India-administered Kashmir of special constitutional status.

RNA – “The Indian government should seriously avoid dealing with Muslims harshly because ‎it is neither in its interest nor the region’s,” Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Movahedi-Kermani said, ‎addressing worshippers in Tehran on Friday.‎

His comments came after the Indian government revoked the special status of India-‎administered Kashmir, in a move that risks fueling already heightened tensions with ‎neighboring Pakistan.‎

Monday’s presidential decree revoked Article 370 of India’s constitution that guaranteed ‎special rights to the Muslim-majority state, including its right to its own constitution and ‎decision-making process for all matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.‎

In the lead-up to its move, India sent thousands of additional troops to the region, imposing ‎a curfew on parts of it, shutting down telecommunications and arresting political leaders.‎

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full, but rule it in part. The two neighbors have ‎fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory.‎